Executive Profile: Dave McAllister, Metova Inc.

Executive Profile: Dave McAllister, Metova Inc.

Dave McAllister took the helm at Franklin-based app development company Metova in December 2012. When he’s not busy overseeing his daughter’s tea parties, McAllister is leading Metova into a new line of business, developing mobile apps for government agencies and overseeing the young company’s search for more office space as it home-grows developer talent.

What is the most outside-of-the-box idea you have ever had in your professional career? Realizing there is no box.

What was the result? Clarity.

What single thing makes your organization stand out? The wonderful individuals I get to work with and for each day.

What does your organization have in the works for 2013? In general, we plan to continue our trajectory of rapid, sustainable growth. [This] means we’ll be hiring talented new developers to meet the growing need for our services; exploring new space options, as we are outgrowing our current offices; and exploring new verticals for mobile apps, including government contracts.

How did you wind up in your current position? I was 18 years old when I got my first job in technology. I was a freshman in college and working nights as an assistant administrator for MRC Group, processing medical records. While I was grateful that my first technology job got me a foot into the industry, much of the work was old-school records management and systems work, and what it really showed me was my passion for working with new technology. Ultimately, I left MRC Group to get into new technology and the emerging space of mobile application development at Metova in 2008. I took the reins as president in December 2012.

What word best describes your leadership style? Executioner.

What makes an effective business leader? Surrounding yourself with better people than you are. Letting your people do their jobs and getting out of their way.

Goal yet to be achieved? World domination.

Favorite hobbies? Reading.

What keeps you up at night? Nothing. I sleep like an infant.

What is the simplest thing you never learned to do? Writing in cursive.

Pets? Three Siberian huskies.

Most prized possession? I have no possessions that I prize.

Person outside of your family you would most like to spend time with on an island? I really enjoy my family and can’t think of anybody else I’d like to share a deserted island with. I think we could have a great time.

You’ve just been given $100,000 to donate to charity. Where would you give it? The Red Cross, because they seem as if they’d put it to good use.

What would you like to cross off your “bucket list” next? I don’t have a bucket list.

What line of work would you pursue if you couldn’t work in your present one? I’m in my ideal profession. Perhaps, if I had to do something else, I’d like to try being a bulldozer operator.

When faced with two equally qualified candidates, how do you determine whom to hire? Whichever one I enjoy being around the most.

Organization or company other than your own that you most admire? Atlassian.

Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? I can’t name just one person. Everyone has had some impact on me; to name just one would be inaccurate.

What is there about you that people would be surprised to learn? I play with dolls and have tea parties on a regular basis — which tends to happen when you have three young daughters.

Biggest professional mistake and how you overcame it? Hiring the wrong people. Firing those wrong people.

If you had to choose one, what is (or would be) your go-to karaoke song? Anything by RUN-DMC, because that would be hilarious to watch, horrible to hear.

What is the one behavior or trait that most often derails leaders’ careers? Ego.

They’re making a movie of your life. Is it a drama or comedy, and who plays you? A comedy; Chevy Chase.

If you could live a double life, the other would be: I have no idea. I guess that is not something I think about. I’m trying to focus on living one life well.